Racemoselective synthesis of ansa-metallocene compounds, ansa-metallocene compounds, catalysts comprising them, process for producing an olefin polymer by use of the catalysts, and olefin homo- and copolymers

ABSTRACT

A metallocene compound with the 4- and 7-positions on the indenyl moiety possessing large aromatic substituents is prepared in accordance with a method which produces substantially 100 percent racemic isomer. Advantageously, polymerisation catalysts including the metallocene of the invention provide superior olefin polymerisation results.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a novel racemoselective synthesis of ansa-metallocene compounds, novel ansa-metallocene compounds useful as components in polymerization catalysts, a process for the polymerization of olefins, particularly propylene, and olefin homopolymers, random and impact copolymers prepared by using the metallocene catalysts.

2. Background of the Art

Chiral ansa-metallocenes of transition metals of the groups three to six of the Periodic Table of Elements are increasingly being used as components for the stereospecific polymerization of olefins. For example, bridged substituted bis(indenyl) zirconium dichlorides are among the most important class of catalyst components for the manufacturing of isotactic polypropylene [Brintzinger, H. H.; Fischer, D.; Muhlhaupt, R.; Rieger, B.; Waymouth, R. M. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. Engl. 1995, 34, 1143./Resconi, L.; Cavallo, L.; Fait, A.; Piemontesi, F. Chem. Rev. 2000, 100, 1253/Pasquini, N. (Editor), Polypropylene Handbook, 2^(nd) Ed. 2005, Carl-Hanser Verlag Munchen]. Appropriately substituted ansa-metallocene complexes for the generation of isotactic polypropylene are generally obtained as mixtures of the racemic form and the undesired meso form from the processes of the prior art.

The classical synthesis of ansa-metallocenes to the prior art generally involves the deprotonation of a bis-indenyl-ligand by a strong base, followed by the reaction with zirconium tetrachloride or its solvent adducts. This classical path has two substantial drawbacks. Instead of the desired racemate, almost equivalent amounts of the mirror-symmetric meso diastereomer are formed in most cases. The meso isomer has to be removed from the mixture, either by means of destruction of the meso form, or removal by crystallization steps. The separation procedure generally lowers the yield of the amount of possible pure racemic complex. The other drawback is the low solubility of metallocene complexes, which leads to the use of large amounts of solvents for the final separation of the racemic and meso forms.

Several, so called “racemoselective” syntheses were described in the literature [see LoCoco, M. D.; Zhang, X.; Jordan, R. F., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2004; 126 (46); 15231-15244 and cited lit.], comprising the use of alternative zirconium sources, which have to be synthesized prior to the manufacturing of the metallocene. WO2004/037840, WO99/15538 and DE10030638 describe multistage processes for preparing racemic metallocene complexes via biphenoxide- or bisphenoxide-substituted metallocenes as intermediates. These approaches lead to metallocenes substituted at zirconium with oxide or amide moieties. These intermediates have to be converted to the corresponding dichlorides in order to use them as catalyst components, thus adding extra steps to the synthesis.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,614 describes 2,4,7-substituted trialkyl-substituted metallocenes, which were obtained as mixtures between the racemic and the meso forms.

It is an object of this invention to provide novel ansa-metallocene structures for the selective preparation of the racemic complexes, which are virtually free of the meso isomer. Not to be bound by any particular theory, the inventors postulate that in order to achieve an intrinsic racemoselectivity, the hindrance of the formation of the meso form might be achieved by steric hindrance of the formation of the meso form. Attaching two large aromatic substituents to the indenyl-moiety in the 4- and in the 7-position should hinder the formation of the meso-form of the complexes. FIG. 1 illustrates this concept.

Another object of the present invention is to address the shortcoming of the state of the art metallocene compounds to provide metallocenes that afford high melting point, high molar mass homopolymers and high molar mass copolymers at high productivities when used as components of supported catalysts under industrially relevant polymerization conditions at temperatures of from 50° C. to 100° C.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a process for the polymerization of olefins, particularly propylene, ethylene, and optionally one or more higher 1-olefins.

Furthermore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide olefin polymers, particularly propylene homopolymers, random copolymers of propylene with ethylene and/or higher 1-olefins, impact copolymers comprised of propylene, ethylene and/or optionally higher 1-olefins, and random impact copolymers comprised of propylene, ethylene and/or optionally higher 1-olefins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A metallocene compound having formula 1 below is provided herein, wherein the 4- and 7-positions (corresponding to the substituents R⁵ and R⁸, respectively) on the indenyl moiety possess large aromatic substituents. The metallocene compound is prepared in accordance with a method which produces substantially pure racemic isomer. Advantageously, polymerisation catalysts comprising the metallocene of the invention provide superior olefin polymerisation results.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of the steric effects of attaching two large aromatic substituents in the 4- and 7-positions of the indenyl moiety (corresponding to the substituents R⁵ and R⁸, respectively, in formula 1); and

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of individual steps of the process of the invention for producing transition-metal compounds of formula 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Surprisingly it was found that bridged bis-indenyl ligands with a special substitution pattern lead selectively to racemic ansa-metallocenes. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 1, when the 4- and 7-positions on the indenyl moiety (corresponding to the substituents R⁵ and R⁸, respectively) possess large aromatic constituents the affects of steric hinderance prevent the formation of the meso isomer of the metallocene. Instead, the product of the method of the present invention is substantially pure racemic isomer as synthesized without any need for further separation processes. By “substantially pure” is meant at least 90% racemic isomer, preferably at least 95% racemic isomer, and more preferably at least 99% racemic isomer.

The first embodiment of the invention relates to a specifically substituted, bridged metallocene component of the general Formula 1 below:

in which:

-   M¹ is a metal of the Groups 4-6 of the Periodic Table of the     Elements, -   R¹ and R² are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom,     an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group     of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about     20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon     atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, an OH     group, a halogen atom, or a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl     group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6     to about 14 carbon atoms and R¹ and R² may form one or more ring     system(s). -   R³ and R^(3′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen     atom, a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may be     halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms like Si, B,     Al, O, S, N or P, for example an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20     carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon     atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, or an     alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an     arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1     to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon     atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy     group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about     3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon     atoms, a halogen atom, or a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl     group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6     to about 14 carbon atoms, -   R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen     atom, a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may be     halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms like Si, B,     Al, O, S, N or P, for example an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20     carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon     atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, or an     alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an     arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1     to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon     atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy     group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about     3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon     atoms, a halogen atom, or a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl     group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6     to about 14 carbon atoms, -   R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical or different and are each an     aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of     from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, or an alkenylaryl group of from 8     to about 40 carbon atoms or a substituted or unsubstituted silylaryl     group, or an (alkyl)(silyl)aryl group. The groups may contain one or     more hetero atoms like Si, B, Al, O, S, N or P, and/or may contain     halogen atoms like F, Cl or Br, -   R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical or different and are each a     hydrogen atom, a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which     may be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms like     Si, B, Al, O, S, N or P, for example an alkyl group of from 1 to     about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20     carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms,     or an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an     arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1     to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon     atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy     group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about     3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon     atoms, a halogen atom, or a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl     group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6     to about 14 carbon atoms, -   R¹⁰ is a bridging group wherein R¹⁰ is selected from:

where

R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹, even when bearing the same index, can be identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a C₁-C₄₀ group such as an alkyl group having from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, a fluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylsilyl, alkyl(aryl)silyl or arylsilyl group or an arylalkenyl group of from 8 to about 40 carbon atoms. R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ together with the atoms connecting them can form one or more cyclic systems or R⁴⁰ and/or R⁴¹ can contain additional hetero atoms (i.e., non-carbon atoms) like Si, B, Al, O, S, N or P or halogen atoms like Cl or Br,

x is an integer from 1 to 18,

M¹² is silicon, germanium or tin, and

R¹⁰ may also link two units of the formula 1 to one another.

Preferred are compounds of the formula 1 in which

-   M¹ is a metal of the Group 4 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, -   R¹ and R² are identical or different and are each an alkyl group of     from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about     10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms     or a halogen atom, or R¹ and R² together may form one or more ring     system(s), -   R³ and R^(3′) are identical or different and are each a linear,     cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may be halogenated and/or     may contain one or more hetero atoms like Si, B, Al, O, S, N or P,     for example an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an     alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl     group of from 7 to about 20 carbon atoms, or an alkylarylalkenyl     group of from 9 to about 20 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to     15 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms,     an aryl group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group     of 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about     10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 10 carbon atoms, an     alkenyl group of from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms, a halogen atom, or     a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10     carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms. -   R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen     atom, a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may be     halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms like Si, B,     Al, O, S, N or P, for example an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20     carbon atoms, -   R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical or different and are each an     aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of     from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms. The groups may contain one or more     hetero atoms like B, Al, O, S, N or P, and/or may contain halogen     atoms like F, Cl or Br. -   R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical or different and are each a     hydrogen atom, a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which     may be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms like     B, Al, O, S, N or P, for example an alkyl group of from 1 to about     20 carbon atoms.     R¹⁰ is R⁴⁰R⁴¹Si═, R⁴⁰R⁴¹Ge═, R⁴⁰R⁴¹C═ or —(R⁴⁰R⁴¹C—CR⁴⁰R⁴¹)—, where     R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom,     a hydrocarbon group of from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, in     particular an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an     aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of     from 7 to about 14 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to     about 14 carbon atoms,

Particularly preferred are compounds of the formula 1 in which

-   M¹ is Zirconium, -   R¹ and R² are identical and are methyl, chlorine or phenolate, -   R³ and R^(3′) are identical and are a linear, cyclic or branched     alkyl group like methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, cyclopropyl,     n-butyl, t-butyl, t-butyl-methyl, i-butyl, s-butyl, n-pentyl,     n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, cyclopropyl-methyl,     cyclopentyl, cyclopentyl-methyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexyl-methyl,     (1-adamantyl)methyl, (2-adamantyl)methyl, or an arylalkyl group of 7     to 15 carbon atoms like benzyl, phenethyl or phenyl-propyl, -   R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical and are each a hydrogen atom, -   R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical and are each an aryl group     of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, like phenyl, 1-naphthyl,     2-naphtyl, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms     which may contain one or more hetero atoms like B, Al, O, S, N or P,     and/or may contain halogen atoms like F, Cl or Br, like     4-methyl-phenyl, 4-ethyl-phenyl, 4-i-propyl-phenyl,     4-t-butyl-phenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl,     3,5-di-t-butyl-4-methoxy-phenyl, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl, -   R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical and are each a hydrogen     atom.     The bridging unit R¹⁰ is R⁴⁰R⁴¹Si═ or R⁴⁰R⁴¹Ge═, where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹     are identical or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl,     pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl,     cyclopentyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, naphthyl, benzyl     or 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl.

Very particularly preferred are compounds of the formula 1 in which

-   M¹ is Zirconium, -   R¹ and R² are identical and are methyl or chlorine, -   R³ and R^(3′) are identical and are a linear, cyclic or branched     alkyl group like methyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl,     cyclohexyl-methyl, t-butyl-methyl, (2-adamantyl)methyl,     (1-adamantyl)methyl, or an arylalkyl group of 7 to 15 carbon atoms     like benzyl, phenethyl or phenyl-propyl, -   R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical and are each a hydrogen atom, -   R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical and are each an aryl group     of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, like phenyl, 1-naphthyl,     2-naphtyl, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms     which may contain one or more hetero atoms like B, Al, O, S, N or P,     and/or may contain halogen atoms like F, Cl or Br, like     4-methyl-phenyl, 4-ethyl-phenyl, 4-i-propyl-phenyl,     4-t-butyl-phenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl,     3,5-di-t-butyl-4-methoxy-phenyl, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl, -   R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical and are each a hydrogen     atom.

The bridging unit R¹⁰ is R⁴⁰R⁴¹Si═ or R⁴⁰R⁴¹Ge═, where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are identical or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, naphthyl, benzyl or 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl.

Non-limiting examples for the metallocene compounds according to Formula 1 are:

-   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2,4,7-triphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-furyl)-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-furyl)-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-furyl)-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-furyl)-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-furyl)-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride; and, -   Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium     dichloride.

Another embodiment of this invention are the indenes of the formula 1a and the bis-indenyl-ligands of the formula 1b, as well as its double bond-isomers:

in which R³, R^(3′), R⁴, R^(4′), R⁵, R^(5′), R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷, R^(7′), R⁸, R^(8′) and R¹⁰ have the meaning mentioned above with the proviso that R³ and R^(3′) each contain at least one carbon atom.

The present invention also includes a process for the racemoselective production of the transition-metal compounds of formula 1 of the invention comprising the following steps:

-   a) Deprotonation of the compound of formula 1a with a base,     preferably n-butyl lithium. -   b) If R¹⁰ has the meaning M¹²R⁴⁰R⁴¹, where M¹², R⁴⁰, and R⁴¹ have     the meanings specified above, then the further production proceeds     by the reaction of the deprotonated compounds from step (a) with     R⁴⁰R⁴¹M¹²X₂ to form the compound of formula 1b, where R⁴⁰, R⁴¹, and     M¹² have the meanings specified above, and X may be the same or     different and means a halogen atom, preferably chlorine, bromine, or     iodine, or another leaving group, preferably triflate, tosylate, or     mesylate. -   c) Double deprotonation of the compound of formula 1b with a base,     preferably n-butyl lithium. -   d) Reacting the product from step c) M¹Cl₄, in which M¹ stands for     zirconium, titanium, or hafnium, to form the compound of formula 1.

In step a), the compound of formula 1a, for example, 2-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butylphenyl)indene in an inert solvent, which consists of one or more aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons and/or one or more polar, aprotic solvents, is deprotonated with a strong base, for example, n-butyl lithium. The deprotonation is carried out at temperatures of −70° C. to 80° C., and preferably 0° C. to 80° C. The resulting metal salt is then reacted directly, without further isolation, in step b) with a silicon compound or germanium compound that contains two leaving groups. Preferential production of the compound of formula 1b can be achieved by adjustment of the quantitative proportions. In the following step c), the bis(indenyl)silanes of formula 1b are doubly deprotonated with a strong base, such as n-butyl lithium, in an inert solvent, which consists of one or more aromatic or aliphatic hydrocarbons and/or one or more polar, aprotic solvents, and the bislithium salt formed in this way is reacted, without isolation, directly with a source of Ti, Zr, or Hf to obtain the compound of formula 1. The deprotonation is carried out at temperatures of 70° C. to 80° C., and preferably 0° C. to 80° C. Due to the nature of the ligand system of formula 1b, the metallocenes are isolated directly from the reaction mixture as pure racemic compounds.

In FIG. 2, the individual steps of the process of the invention for producing transition-metal compounds of formula 1 are shown once again for the example of a preferred embodiment.

In addition, the present invention relates to a catalyst system comprising at least one compound of formula 1 and at least one cocatalyst.

A suitable cocatalyst component which may be present according to the present invention in the catalyst system comprises at least one compound of the type of an aluminoxane, a Lewis acid or an ionic compound which reacts with a metallocene to convert the latter into a cationic compound.

Aluminoxanes are oligomeric or polymeric aluminum oxy compounds, which may exist in the form of linear, cyclic, caged or polymeric structures. Although the exact structure(s) of aluminoxanes is still unknown, it is well accepted that alkylaluminoxanes have the general formula 6.

(R-AI-0)_(p)  (Formula 6).

Examples for cyclic, linear or cage structures of aluminoxanes are depicted in the formulas 7, 8 and 9:

The radicals R in the formulas (6), (7), (8) and (9) can be identical or different and are each a C₁-C₂₀ group such as an alkyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 18 carbon atoms, benzyl or hydrogen and p is an integer from 2 to 50, preferably from 10 to 35.

Preferably, the radicals R are identical and are methyl, isobutyl, n-butyl, phenyl or benzyl, particularly preferably methyl.

If the radicals R are different, they are preferably methyl and hydrogen, methyl and isobutyl or methyl and n-butyl, with hydrogen, isobutyl or n-butyl preferably being present in a proportion of from 0.01 to 40% (number of radicals R).

The aluminoxane can be prepared in various ways by known methods. One of the methods comprises the reaction of an aluminum-hydrocarbon compound and/or a hydridoaluminum-hydrocarbon compound with water, which may be gaseous, solid, liquid or bound as water of crystallization, in an inert solvent such as toluene. To prepare an aluminoxane having different alkyl groups R, two different trialkylaluminums (AlR₃+AlR′₃) corresponding to the desired composition and reactivity are reacted with water, cf. S. Pasynkiewicz, Polyhedron 9 (1990) 429 and EP-A-0 302 424.

Regardless of the method of preparation, all aluminoxane solutions have in common a variable content of unreacted aluminum starting compound which is present in free form or as an adduct.

Furthermore, instead of the aluminoxane compounds of the formulas 6, 7, 8 or 9, it is also possible to use modified aluminoxanes in which the hydrocarbon radicals or hydrogen atoms have been partly replaced by alkoxy, aryloxy, siloxy or amide radicals.

The amounts of aluminoxane and metallocene used in the preparation of the supported catalyst system can be varied within a wide range. However, it has been found to be advantageous to use the metallocene compound of formula 1 and the aluminoxane compounds in such amounts that the atomic ratio of aluminum from the aluminoxane compounds to the transition metal from the metallocene compound is in the range from 10:1 to 1000:1, preferably from 20:1 to 500:1 and in particular in the range from 30:1 to 400:1. In the case of methylaluminoxane, preference is given to using 30 wt.-% strength toluene solutions, but the use of 10 wt.-% strength solutions is also possible.

As Lewis acid, preference is given to using compounds of the formula 10

M²X¹X²X³  (Formula 10)

where

M² is an element of Group 13 of the Periodic Table of Elements, in particular B, Al or Ga, preferably B or Al, and

X¹, X² and X³ are the same or different and each are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 15 carbon atoms, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, haloalkyl or haloaryl each having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and from 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine. Preferred examples for X¹, X² and X³ are methyl, propyl, isopropyl, isobutyl or trifluoromethyl, unsaturated groups such as aryl or haloaryl like phenyl, tolyl, benzyl groups, p-fluorophenyl, 3,5-difluorophenyl, pentachlorophenyl, pentafluorophenyl, 3,4,5-trifluorophenyl and 3,5-di(trifluoromethyl)phenyl.

Preferred Lewis acids are trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tributylaluminum, trifluoroborane, triphenylborane, tris(4-fluorophenyl)borane, tris(3,5-difluorophenyl)borane, tris(4-fluoromethylphenyl)borane, tris(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)borane, tris(penta-fluorophenyl)borane, tris(tolyl)borane, tris(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)borane, tris(3,5-difluorophenyl)borane and/or tris(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)borane.

Particular preference is given to tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane.

As ionic cocatalysts, preference is given to using compounds which contain a non-coordinating anion such as tetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tetraphenylborate, SbF₆ ⁻, CF₃SO₃ ⁻ or ClO₄ ⁻. Suitable counterions are either Lewis acid or Broenstedt acid cation.

As Broensted acids, particular preference is given to protonated amine or aniline derivatives such as methylammonium, anilinium, dimethylammonium, diethylammonium, N-methylanilinium, diphenylammonium, N,N-dimethylanilinium, trimethylammonium, triethylammonium, tri-n-butylammonium, methyldiphenylammonium, pyridinium, p-bromo-N,N-dimethylanilinium or p-nitro-N,N-dimethylanilinium,

Suitable Lewis-acid cations are cations of the formula 11

[(Y^(a+))Q₁Q₂ . . . Q_(z)]^(d+)  (Formula 11)

where Y is an element of Groups 1 to 16 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, Q₁ to Q_(z) are singly negatively charged groups such as C₁-C₂₈-alkyl, C₆-C₁₅-aryl, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, haloalkyl, haloaryl each having from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical and from 1 to 28 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical, cycloalkyl groups of from 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, which may in turn bear alkyl groups of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms as substitutents, halogen, alkoxy groups of from 1 to 28 carbon atoms, aryloxy groups of from 6 to 15 carbon atoms, silyl or mercaptyl groups.

a is an integer from 1-6,

z is an integer from 0 to 5 and

d corresponds to the difference a-z, but d is larger than or equal to 1

Particularly suitable cations are carbonium cations such as triphenylcarbenium, oxonium cations, sulfonium cations such as tetrahydrothiophenium, phosphonium cations such as triethylphosphonium, triphenylphosphonium and diphenylphosphonium, and also cationic transition metal complexes such as the silver cation and the 1,1′-dimethylferrocenium cation.

Preferred ionic compounds which can be used according to the present invention include:

-   triethylammoniumtetra(phenyl)borate, -   tributylammoniumtetra(phenyl)borate, -   trimethylammoniumtetra(tolyl)borate, -   tributylammoniumtetra(tolyl)borate, -   tributylammoniumtetra(pentafluorophenyl)borate, -   tributylammoniumtetra(pentafluorophenyl) aluminate, -   tripropylammoniumtetra(dimethylphenyl)borate, -   tributylammoniumtetra(trifluoromethylphenyl) borate, -   tributylammoniumtetra(4-fluorophenyl)borate, -   N,N-dimethylcyclohexylammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, -   N,N-dimethylbenzylammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate -   N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetra(phenyl)borate, -   N,N-diethylaniliniumtetra(phenyl)borate, -   N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, -   N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)aluminate, -   di(propyl)ammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, -   di(cyclohexyl)ammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, -   triphenylphosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, -   triethylphosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, -   diphenylphosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, -   tri(methylphenyl)phosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, -   tri(dimethylphenyl)phosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, -   triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, -   triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)aluminate, -   triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(phenyl)aluminate, -   ferroceniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate and/or -   ferroceniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)aluminate,

Preference is given to triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylcyclohexylammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate or N,N-dimethylbenzylammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate.

It is also possible to use mixtures of all of the above and below mentioned cation-forming compounds. Preferred mixtures comprise aluminoxanes and an ionic compound, and/or a Lewis acid.

Other useful cocatalyst components are likewise borane or carborane compounds such as

-   7,8-dicarbaundecaborane(13), -   undecahydrido-7,8-dimethyl-7,8-dicarbaundecaborane, -   dodecahydrido-1-phenyl-1,3-dicarbanonaborane, -   tri(butyl)ammoniumun decahydrido-8-ethyl-7,9-dicarbaundecaborate, -   4-carbanonaborane(14), -   bis(tri(butyl)ammonium)nonaborate, -   bis(tri(butyl)ammonium)undecaborate, -   bis(tri(butyl)ammonium)dodecaborate, -   bis(tri(butyl)ammonium)decachlorodecaborate, -   tri(butyl)ammonium-1-carbadecaborate, -   tri(butyl)ammonium-1-carbadodecaborate, -   tri(butyl)ammonium-1-trimethylsilyl-1-carbadecaborate, -   tri(butyl)ammoniumbis(nonahydrido-1,3-dicarbanonaborato)cobaltate(III),     tri(butyl)ammonium -   bis(undecahydrido-7,8-dicarbaundecaborato)ferrate(III).

The amount of Lewis acids or ionic compounds having Lewis-acid or Broensted-acid cations is preferably from 0.1 to 20 equivalents, preferably from 1 to 10 equivalents, based on the metallocene compound of the formula 1.

Combinations of at least one Lewis base with bimetallic compounds of the type R_(i) ¹⁷M³(—O-M³R_(j) ¹⁸)_(v) or R_(i) ¹⁸M³(—O-M³R_(j) ¹⁷)_(v) (formula 12), as described in Patent Application WO 99/40,129, are likewise important as cocatalyst systems.

In this regard, R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ are the same or different and represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄₀ carbon-containing group, especially an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, haloalkyl of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, alkoxy of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, aryl of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, haloaryl of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, aryloxy of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, haloarylalkyl of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, alkylaryl of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, or haloalkylaryl of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms. R¹⁷ may also be an —OSiR⁵¹ ₃ group, in which the R⁵¹ groups are the same or different and have the same meaning as R¹⁷, M³ is the same or different and represents an element of main group III of the periodic table of elements, i, j, and v each stands for a whole number 0, 1, or 2, and i+j+v is not equal to 0.

Preferred cocatalyst systems are the compounds of formulas (A) and (B)

where R¹⁷ and R¹⁸ have the same meaning as specified above.

Furthermore, compounds that are generally to be regarded as preferred are those formed by the reaction of at least one compound of formulas (C) and/or (D) and/or (E) with at least one compound of formula (F).

in which

-   R²⁷ may be a hydrogen atom or a boron-free C₁-C₄₀ carbon-containing     group, such as an alkyl of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, aryl of     from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of from 7 to about 40     carbon atoms, and alkylaryl of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, and     in which R¹⁷, R¹⁸ have the same meaning as specified above, -   D is an element of main Group VI of the periodic table of elements     or an NR⁶¹ group, where R⁶¹ is a hydrogen atom or a C₁-C₂₀     hydrocarbon group, such as alkyl of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms     or aryl of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, -   f is a whole number from 0 to 3, -   g is a whole number from 0 to 3 where f+g corresponds to the valency     of Boron, and -   h is a whole number from 1 to 10.

The bimetallic compounds of formula 12 are possibly combined with an organometallic compound of formula 13, i.e., [M⁴R¹⁹ _(q)]_(k), in which M⁴ is an element of main Group I, II, or III of the periodic table of the elements, R¹⁹ is the same or different and represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₄₀ carbon-containing group, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from about 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, arylalkyl of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, and alkylaryl of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, q is a whole number from 1 to 3, and k is a whole number from 1 to 4.

The organometallic compounds of formula 13 are preferably neutral Lewis acids, in which M⁴ stands for lithium, magnesium, and/or aluminum, especially aluminum. Examples of preferred organometallic compounds of formula 13 are trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisopropylaluminum, trihexylaluminum, trioctylaluminum, tri-n-butylaluminum, tri-n-propylaluminum, triisoprene aluminum, dimethyl aluminum monochloride, aluminum monochloride, diisobutyl aluminum monochloride, methyl aluminum sesquichloride, ethyl aluminum sesquichloride, dimethyl aluminum hydride, aluminum hydride, diisopropyl aluminum hydride, dimethyl aluminum(trimethylsiloxide), dimethyl aluminum(triethylsiloxide), phenylalan, pentafluorophenylalan, and o-tolylalan.

The catalyst system of the invention contains an organoboroaluminum compound, which contains units of formula 12, as the cocatalytically active chemical compound. Compounds of formula 12 in which M³ stands for boron or aluminum are preferred. The compounds that contain units of formula 12 may be present as monomers or as linear, cyclic, or cage-like oligomers. Two or more chemical compounds that contain units of formula 12 may also form dimers, trimers, or higher combinations among themselves by Lewis acid-base interactions.

Preferred cocatalytically active bimetallic compounds correspond to formulas 14 and 15,

in which R¹⁰⁰ and R²⁰⁰ are the same or different and have the same meaning as the substituents R¹⁷ or R¹⁸ in formula 12.

Examples of the cocatalytically active compounds of formulas 14 and 15 are

The compounds named in EP-A-924,223, DE 196 22 207.9, EP-A-601,830, EP-A-824,112, EP-A-824,113, WO 99/06,414, EP-A-811,627, WO 97/11,775, DE 196 06 167.9 and DE 198 04 970 can be used as additional cocatalysts, which may be present in unsupported or supported form.

The amount of cocatalysts of formula 12 and/or 14 and/or 15 used in the catalyst of the present invention can vary from 0.1 to 500 equivalents, preferably'from 1 to 300 equivalents, most preferably from 5 to 150 equivalents, based on the used amount of metallocene compound of the formula 1.

The catalyst system of the present invention can further comprise, as additional component, a metal compound of the formula 16,

M⁵(R²²)_(r)(R²³)_(s)(R²⁴)_(t)  (Formula 16)

wherein

-   -   M⁵ is an alkali, an alkali earth metal or a metal of Group 13 of         the Periodic Table of the Elements,     -   R²² is a hydrogen atom, alkyl of from 1 to about 10 carbon         atoms, aryl of from 6 to about 15 carbon atoms, or alkylaryl or         arylalkyl each having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl         part and from 6 to 20 carbon atoms in the aryl part,     -   R²³ and R²⁴ are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, alkyl of         from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, C₆-C₁₅-aryl of from about 6 to         about 15 carbon atoms, or alkylaryl, arylalkyl or alkoxy each         having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl part and from 6 to         20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical,     -   r is an integer from 1 to 3 and s and t are integers from 0 to         2, where the sum r+s+t corresponds to the valency of M⁵,         where this component is not identical with the above mentioned         cocatalyst compounds. It is also possible to use mixtures of         various metal compounds of the formula 16.

Among the metal compounds of the formula 16 preference is given to those in which M⁵ is lithium, magnesium or aluminum and R²³ and R²⁴ are each alkyl of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms. Particularly preferred metal compounds of the formula 16 are n-butyllithium, n-butyl-n-octyl-magnesium, n-butyl-n-heptylmagnesium, tri-n-hexylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, triethylaluminum, trimethylaluminum or mixtures thereof.

If a metal compound of the formula 16 is used, it is preferably present in the catalyst system in such an amount that the molar ratio of M⁵ to the transition metal from the metallocene compound of formula 1 is from 800:1 to 1:1, in particular from 200:1 to 2:1.

The support component of the catalyst system of the present invention can be any organic or inorganic inert solid or a mixture of such solids, in particulate porous solids such as hydrotalcites, talc, inorganic oxides and finely divided polymer powders.

Suitable inorganic oxides, which are preferably employed include from the Periodic Table of Elements Groups 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 12, 13 and 14 metal oxides such as silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, aluminosilicates, zeolites, MgO, ZrO₂, TiO₂ or B₂O₃, CaO, ZnO, ThO₂, Na₂O, K₂O, LiO₂ or mixed oxides like Al/Si oxides, Mg/Al oxides or Al/Mg/Si oxides. Other suitable inorganic support materials are Na₂CO₃, K₂CO₃, CaCO₃, MgCl₂, Na₂SO₄, Al₂(SO₄)₃, BaSO₄, KNO₃, Mg(NO₃)₂ and Al(NO₃)₃.

Suitable polymer powders are homopolymers, copolymers, crosslinked polymers or polymer blends. Examples of such polymers are polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polystyrene, divinylbenzene-crosslinked polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyamide, polymethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyester, polyacetal or polyvinyl alcohol.

The preferred support materials have a specific surface area in the range from 10 to 1000 m²/g, a pore volume in the range from 0.1 to 5 cm³/g and a mean particle size of from 1 to 500 μm. Preference is given to supports having a specific surface area in the range from 50 to 500 m²/g, a pore volume in the range from 0.5 to 3.5 cm³/g and a mean particle size in the range from 5 to 250 μm. Particular preference is given to supports having a specific surface area in the range from 200 to 400 m²/g, a pore volume in the range from 0.8 to 3.0 cm³/g and a mean particle size of from 10 to 100 μm.

The support materials can be thermally and/or chemically be pretreated in order to adjust certain properties of the carrier such as the water and/or the hydroxyl group content.

If the support material has a low moisture content or residual solvent content, dehydration or drying before use can be omitted. If this is not the case, as when using silica gel as support material, dehydration or drying is advisable. Thermal dehydration or drying of the support material can be carried out under reduced pressure with or without simultaneous inert gas blanketing (nitrogen). The drying temperature is in the range from 80° C. to 1000° C., preferably from 150° C. to 800° C. and most preferred from 150° C. to 400° C. The duration of the drying process can be from 1 to 24 hours. But shorter or longer drying periods are also possible.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, support materials with a weight loss on dryness (LOD) of 0.5 wt. % or less, and even more preferred with a LOD of 0.3 wt % or less are used. Higher amounts of physically adsorbed water up to 1 wt % are possible, but result in reduced catalyst activities. The loss on ignition (LOI) of the support material is preferably 1 wt % or greater or even more preferred between 1.5 and 3.5 wt %. The weight loss on dryness (LOD) is thereby defined as the weight loss between room temperature and 300° C. and the weight loss on ignition (LOI) as the weight loss between 300° C. and 1000° C.

In addition or alternatively, dehydration or drying of the support material can also be carried out by chemical means, by reacting the adsorbed water and/or the surface hydroxyl groups with suitable passivating agents. Reaction with the passivating reagent can convert the hydroxyl groups completely or partially into a form, which does not show any adverse interaction with the catalytically active centers. Suitable passivating agents are silicon halides, silanes or amines, eg. silicon tetrachloride, chlorotrimethylsilane, dichlorodialkylsilanes, dimethylaminotrichlorosilane, N,N-dimethylanilin or N,N-dimethylbenzylamine or organometallic compounds of aluminum, boron and magnesium, eg. aluminoxanes, trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, diisobutylaluminum hydride, triethylborane or dibutylmagnesium.

As outlined above, organic support materials such as finely divided polymer powders, can also be used and should, before use, likewise be freed from any adhering moisture, solvent residues or other impurities by means of appropriate purification and drying operations.

Preference is given to using silica gels having the defined parameters as support materials. Spray dried silica grades, which inherently exhibit meso and macro pores, cavities and channels are preferred over granular silica grades.

The supported catalyst system according to this invention can be made in various ways.

In one embodiment of the present invention, at least one of the above-described metallocene components of formula 1 is brought into contact in a suitable solvent with at least one cocatalyst component, preferably giving a soluble reaction product, an adduct or a mixture. The obtained composition is mixed with the dehydrated or passivated support material, the solvent is removed and the resulting supported metallocene catalyst system is dried to ensure that the solvent is completely or mostly removed from the pores of the support material. The supported catalyst is obtained as a free-flowing powder.

As an example, the process for preparing a free-flowing and, if desired, prepolymerized supported catalyst system comprises the following steps:

a) preparing a metallocene/cocatalyst mixture in a suitable solvent or suspension medium, where the metallocene component has one of the above-described structures,

b) applying the metallocene/cocatalyst mixture to a porous, preferably inorganic, if necessary thermally or chemically pretreated support,

c) removing the major part of solvent from the resulting mixture,

d) isolating the supported catalyst system and

e) if desired, prepolymerizing the resulting supported catalyst system with one or more olefinic monomer(s), to obtain a prepolymerized supported catalyst system.

In another embodiment of this invention the metallocene/cocatalyst composition is mixed with the dehydrated or passivated support material, the supported catalyst is recovered and optionally washed with an aromatic hydrocarbon and/or paraffinic hydrocarbon solvent. The isolated catalyst is then dispersed in a non-reactive suspension media such as a paraffinic hydrocarbon solvent, a mineral oil or a wax or mixtures thereof.

In a further embodiment of this invention the catalyst can be prepared according to the procedure disclosed in WO 06/60544, WO 00/05277 and WO 98/01481.

As an example, in WO 06/60544, a free flowing and, if desired, prepolymerized supported catalyst system is prepared comprising the following steps:

a) contacting at least one support material with a first portion of at least one co-catalyst in a suitable solvent

b) impregnating the co-catalyst loaded support with a suspension or solution, which comprises at least one metallocene and a second portion of at least one co-catalyst in a suitable solvent

c) isolating the supported catalyst system and

f) if desired, prepolymerizing the resulting supported catalyst system with one or more olefinic monomer(s), to obtain a prepolymerized supported catalyst system.

Thus, as an example, the process according to WO 06/60544 for preparing a free-flowing and, if desired, prepolymerized supported catalyst system comprises the following steps:

a) Contacting a support material with a first composition which includes at least one aluminoxane in a first solvent at a temperature of about 10 to 30° C. followed by keeping the mixture at about 20° C. for 0 to 12 hours, subsequently heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of 30 to 200° C. and keeping the mixture at 30 to 200° C. for 30 minutes to 20 hours, optionally followed by removing all or part of the first solvent and/or optionally followed by one or more washing step(s) using a suitable solvent,

b) Suspending and/or dissolving, respectively, at least one metallocene of formula 1 and a second portion of an aluminoxane or of a mixture of aluminoxanes or of an ionic compound and/or a Lewis acid in a second solvent or suspension medium at a temperature of 0 to 100° C., optionally followed by a preactivation time of 1 minute to 200 hours at a temperature of 10 to 100°,

c) Applying the mixture prepared in b) to the aluminoxane loaded support material produced in a), at a temperature of 10 to 100° C. and a contact time of 1 minute to 24 hours,

d) Removing the major part of the solvent from the resulting mixture and optionally washing the resulting supported catalyst with a suitable solvent,

e) Isolating the supported catalyst system and

f) Optionally prepolymerizing the resulting supported catalyst system with one or more olefinic monomer(s), to obtain a prepolymerized supported catalyst system.

More specifically, as an example, the process according to WO 06/60544 for preparing a free-flowing and, if desired, prepolymerized supported catalyst system comprises the following steps:

a) Contacting a support material with a first composition which includes at least 5 mmol of an aluminoxane or of a mixture of aluminoxanes per g support material in a first solvent at a temperature of about 20° C. followed by keeping the mixture at about 20° C. for 0.15 to 2 hours, subsequently heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of 50 to 160° C. and keeping the mixture at 50 to 160° C. for 1 to 6 hours, optionally followed by removing all or part of the first solvent and/or optionally followed by one or more washing step(s) using a suitable solvent,

b) Suspending and/or dissolving, respectively, at least 0.5 mmole of a second portion of an aluminoxane or of a mixture of aluminoxanes per g support material and at least 0.1 mol % of the employed second portion of an aluminoxane or of a mixture of aluminoxanes per g support material of at least one metallocene of formula 1 in a second solvent or suspension medium at a temperature of 20 to 50° C., optionally followed by a preactivation time of 1 minute to 200 hours at a temperature of 20 to 30°,

c) Applying the mixture prepared in b) to the aluminoxane loaded support material produced in a), at a temperature of 10 to 100° C. and a contact time of 1 minute to 24 hours,

d) Removing the major part of the solvent from the resulting mixture and

e) Optionally washing the resulting supported catalyst with a suitable solvent, and/or drying the resulting supported catalyst at temperatures of 30 to 60° C., and

f) Optionally prepolymerizing the resulting supported catalyst system with one or more olefinic monomer(s), to obtain a prepolymerized supported catalyst system.

In a preferred embodiment, as an example, the process according to WO 06/60544 for preparing a free-flowing and, if desired, prepolymerized supported catalyst system comprises the following steps:

a) Contacting an optionally thermally pretreated silica support material with at least 10 mmol of an aluminoxane per g support material in toluene at a temperature of about 20° C. followed by subsequently heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of 50 to 110° C. and keeping the mixture at 50 to 110° C. for 1 to 6 hours, optionally followed by removing all or part of the toluene, and/or optionally followed by one or more washing step(s) using a suitable solvent,

b) Suspending and/or dissolving, respectively, at least 0.5 mmole of a second portion of an aluminoxane per g support material and at least 0.1 mol % of the employed second portion of an aluminoxane or of a mixture of aluminoxanes per g support material of at least one metallocene of formula 1 in toluene at a temperature of 20 to 50° C., optionally followed by a preactivation time of 1 minute to 200 hours at a temperature of 20 to 30°,

c) Applying the mixture prepared in b) to the aluminoxane loaded support material produced in a), at a temperature of 10 to 100° C. and a contact time of 1 minute to 24 hours,

d) Removing the major part of the toluene from the resulting mixture and

e) Optionally washing the resulting supported catalyst with a suitable solvent, and/or drying the resulting supported catalyst at temperatures of 30 to 60° C., and

f) Optionally prepolymerizing the resulting supported catalyst system with one or more olefinic monomer(s), to obtain a prepolymerized supported catalyst system.

In a more preferred embodiment, as an example, the process according to WO 06/60544 for preparing a free-flowing and, if desired, prepolymerized supported catalyst system comprises the following steps:

a) Contacting an optionally thermally pretreated silica support material with a weight loss on dryness (LOD) of 0.5 wt. % or less and a weight loss on ignition (LOI) of 1.0 wt. % or greater with a first composition which includes at least 10 nmol of methylaluminoxane per g support material in toluene at a temperature of about 20° C. followed by subsequently heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of 110° C. and keeping the mixture at 110° C. for 1 to 6 hours, optionally followed by removing all or part of the toluene, and/or optionally followed by one or more washing step(s) using a suitable solvent,

b) Suspending and/or dissolving, respectively, at least 1 mmole of a second portion of methylaluminoxane per g support material and at least 0.1 mol % of the employed second portion of methylaluminoxane per g support material of at least one metallocene of formula 1 in toluene at a temperature of 20 to 50° C., optionally followed by a preactivation time of 1 minute to 200 hours at a temperature of 20 to 30°,

c) Applying the mixture prepared in b) to the methylaluminoxane loaded support material produced in a), by passing the impregnation suspension or solution b) through the methylaluminoxane loaded support material in a direct flow or by using an incipient wetness impregnation technique, where the volume of the impregnation suspension or solution or the total liquid volume used in the impregnation step, respectively, does not exceed 250% of the total pore volume of the support material, at a temperature of 10 to 100° C. and a contact time of 1 minute to 24 hours,

d) Removing the major part of the toluene from the resulting mixture and

e) Optionally washing the resulting supported catalyst with a suitable solvent,

-   -   and/or drying the resulting supported catalyst at temperatures         of 30 to 60° C., and

f) Optionally prepolymerizing the resulting supported catalyst system with one or more olefinic monomer(s), to obtain a prepolymerized supported catalyst system.

In a particular preferred embodiment, as an example, the process according to WO 06/60544 for preparing a free-flowing and, if desired, prepolymerized supported catalyst system comprises the following steps:

a) Contacting an optionally thermally pretreated silica support material with a weight loss on dryness (LOD) of 0.3 wt. % or less and a weight loss on ignition (LOT) between 1.5 and 3.5 wt. %, with at least 10 mmol of methylaluminoxane per g support material in toluene at a temperature of about 20° C. followed by subsequently heating the resulting mixture to a temperature of 110° C. and keeping the mixture at 110° C. for 1 to 6 hours, optionally followed by removing all or part of the toluene, and/or optionally followed by one or more washing step(s) using a suitable solvent,

b) Suspending and/or dissolving, respectively, at least 1 mmole of a second portion of methylaluminoxane per g support material and at least 0.1 mol % of the employed second portion of methylaluminoxane per g support material of at least one metallocene of formula 1 in toluene at a temperature of 20 to 50° C., optionally followed by a preactivation time of 1 minute to 200 hours at a temperature of 20 to 30°,

c) Applying the mixture prepared in b) to the methylaluminoxane loaded support material produced in a), by passing the impregnation suspension or solution b) through the aluminoxane loaded support material a) in a direct flow or by using an incipient wetness impregnation technique, where the volume of the impregnation suspension or solution or the total liquid volume used in the impregnation step, respectively, does not exceed 250% of the total pore volume of the support material, at a temperature of 10 to 100° C. and a contact time of 1 minute to 24 hours,

d) Removing the major part of the toluene from the resulting mixture and

e) Optionally washing the resulting supported catalyst with a suitable solvent,

-   -   and/or drying the resulting supported catalyst at temperatures         of 30 to 60° C., and

f) Optionally prepolymerizing the resulting supported catalyst system with one or more olefinic monomer(s), to obtain a prepolymerized supported catalyst system.

According to the present invention, for preparing a free-flowing and, if desired, prepolymerized supported catalyst system, in step b) of the catalyst preparations as mentioned above, instead of an aluminoxane or a mixture of aluminoxanes, at least one alkyl compound of elements of main Groups I to III of the Periodic Table, for example a magnesium alkyl, a lithium alkyl or an aluminum alkyl like trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutyllaluminum, triisopropylaluminum, trihexylaluminum, trioctylaluminum, tri-n-butylaluminum, tri-n-propylaluminum, triisoprene aluminum, dimethyl aluminum monochloride, aluminum monochloride, diisobutyl aluminum monochloride, methyl aluminum sesquichloride, ethyl aluminum sesquichloride, dimethyl aluminum hydride, aluminum hydride, diisopropyl aluminum hydride, dimethyl aluminum(trimethylsiloxide), dimethyl aluminum(triethylsiloxide), phenylalan, pentafluorophenylalan, and o-tolylalan, can be used. Preferred aluminum alkyls are trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutyllaluminum.

In an even further embodiment of the present invention a free flowing and, if desired, prepolymerized supported catalyst system is prepared comprising the following steps:

a) preparing a trialkylaluminium/borinic acid mixture in a suitable solvent or suspension medium

b) applying the trialkylaluminium/borinic acid mixture to a porous, preferably inorganic, if necessary thermally or chemically pretreated support, which was prior treated with a base like N,N-diethylbenzylamine, N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, N-benzyldimethylamine, N-benzyldiethylamine, N-benzylbutylamine, N-benzyl tertbutylamine, N-benzylisopropylamine, N-benzylmethylamine, N-benzylethylamine, N-benzyl-1-phenylethylamine, N-benzyl-2-phenylethylamine, N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, N,N-diethylbenzylamine, N-methyl-N-ethylbenzylamine, N-methyldibenzylamine and N-ethyldi(benzyl)amine,

c) removing the major part of solvent from the resulting mixture to obtain a supported cocatalyst,

d) preparing a metallocene/supported cocatalyst mixture in a suitable solvent or suspension medium, where the metallocene of formula 1 is optionally treated with additional trialkylaluminum,

e) isolating the supported catalyst system and

f) if desired, prepolymerizing the resulting supported catalyst system with one or more olefinic monomer(s), to obtain a prepolymerized supported catalyst system.

Preferred solvents for the preparation of the metallocene/cocatalyst mixture are hydrocarbons and hydrocarbon mixtures, which are liquid at the selected reaction temperature and in which the individual components preferably dissolve. The solubility of the individual components is, however, not a prerequisite as long as it is ensured that the reaction product of metallocene and cocatalyst components is soluble in the solvent selected. Suitable solvents are alkanes such as pentane, isopentane, hexane, isohexane, heptane, octane and nonane, cycloalkanes such as cyclopentane and cyclohexane and aromatics such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and diethylbenzene. Very particular preference is given to toluene, heptane and ethylbenzene.

For a preactivation, the metallocene in the form of a solid is dissolved in a solution of the cocatalyst in a suitable solvent. It is also possible to dissolve the metallocene separately in a suitable solvent and subsequently to combine this solution with the cocatalyst solution. Preference is given to using toluene. The preactivation time is from 1 minute to 200 hours. The preactivation can take place at room temperature of 25° C. In individual cases, the use of higher temperatures can reduce the required preactivation time and give an additional increase in activity. Elevated temperatures in this case refer to a range from 25° C. to 100° C.

The preactivated solution or the metallocene/cocatalyst mixture is subsequently combined with an inert support material, usually silica gel, which is in the form of a dry powder or as a suspension in one of the above mentioned solvents. The support material is preferably used as powder. The preactivated metallocene/cocatalyst solution or the metallocene/cocatalyst mixture can be either added to the initially charged support material, or else the support material can be introduced into the initially charged solution.

The volume of the preactivated solution or the metallocene/cocatalyst mixture can exceed 100% of the total pore volume of the support material used or else be up to 100% of the total pore volume.

The temperature at which the preactivated solution or the metallocene/cocatalyst mixture is brought into contact with the support material can vary within the range from 0° C. to 100° C. However, lower or higher temperatures are also possible.

While the solvent is completely or mostly removed from the supported catalyst system, the mixture can be stirred and, if desired, also heated. Preferably, both the visible portion of the solvent and the portion in the pores of the support material are removed. The removal of the solvent can be carried out in a conventional way using reduced pressure and/or purging with inert gas. During the drying process, the mixture can be heated until the free solvent has been removed, which usually takes from 1 to 3 hours at a preferred temperature of from 30° C. to 60° C. The free solvent is the visible portion of the solvent in the mixture. For the purposes of the present invention, residual solvent is the portion present in the pores.

As an alternative to the complete removal of the solvent, the supported catalyst system can also be dried until only a certain residual solvent content is left, with the free solvent having been completely removed. Subsequently, the supported catalyst system can be washed with a low-boiling point hydrocarbon such as pentane or hexane and dried again.

The supported catalyst system prepared according to the present invention can be used either directly for the polymerization of olefins or be prepolymerized with one or more olefinic monomers, with or without the use of hydrogen as molar mass regulating agent, prior to use in a polymerization process. The procedure for the prepolymerization of supported catalyst systems is described in WO 94/28034.

It is possible to add, during or after the preparation of the supported catalyst system, a small amount of an olefin, preferably an alpha-olefin such as styrene or phenyldimethylvinylsilane as activity-increasing component or an antistatic, as described in U.S. Ser. No. 08/365,280. The molar ratio of additive to metallocene component of formula 1 is preferably from 1:1000 to 1000:1, very particularly preferably from 1:20 to 20:1.

The present invention also provides a process for preparing a polyolefin by polymerization of one or more olefins in the presence of the catalyst system of the present invention comprising at least one transition metal component of the formula 1. For the purposes of the present invention, the term polymerization refers to both homopolymerization and copolymerization and the term copolymerization includes terpolymerisation or copolymerisation of more than three different monomers.

Preference is given to polymerizing olefins of the formula R^(m)—CH═CH—R^(n), where R^(m) and R^(n) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom or a radical having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, in particular from 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R^(m) and R^(n) together with the atoms connecting them can form one or more rings.

Suitable olefins are 1-olefins, eg. ethylene, propylene, 1-butene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, 4-methyl-1-pentene or 1-octene, styrene, dienes such as 1,3-butadiene, 1,4-hexadiene, vinylnorbornene, norbornadiene, ethylnorbornadiene and cyclic olefins such as norbornene, tetracyclododecene or methylnorbornene. In the process of the present invention, preference is given to homopolymerizing propylene or ethylene or copolymerizing propylene with ethylene and/or one or more 1-olefins having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, eg. 1-butene or hexene, and/or one or more dienes having from 4 to 20 carbon atoms, eg. 1,4-butadiene, norbornadiene, ethylidenenorbornene or ethylnorbornadiene. Very suitable copolymers are ethylene-propylene copolymers, propylene-1-pentene copolymers and ethylene-propylene-1-butene, ethylene-propylene-1-pentene or ethylene-propylene-1,4-hexadiene terpolymers.

The polymerization is carried out at from −60° C. to 300° C., preferably from 50° C. to 200° C., very particularly preferably from 50° C. to 95° C. The pressure is from 0.5 to 2000 bar, preferably from 5 to 100 bar.

The polymerization can be carried out in solution, in bulk, in suspension or in the gas phase, continuously or batchwise, in one or more stages. As an example, impact copolymers are preferably produced in more than one stage. The homopolymer or random copolymer content of such a polymer can be produced in (a) first stage(s) and the copolymer rubber content can be produced in (a) consecutive stage(s).

The supported catalyst system prepared according to the present invention can be used as sole catalyst component for the polymerization of olefins or preferably in combination with at least one alkyl compound of elements of main Groups I to III of the Periodic Table, for example an aluminum alkyl, magnesium alkyl or lithium alkyl or an aluminoxane. The alkyl compound is added to the monomer or suspension medium and serves to free the monomer of substances, which can impair the catalytic activity. The amount of alkyl compound added depends on the quality of the monomers used.

To prepare olefin polymers having a broad or bimodal molecular weight distribution or a broad or bimodal melting range, it is recommended to use a catalyst system comprising two or more different metallocenes and/or two or more different cocatalysts. Alternatively two or more different catalyst systems of the present invention can be used as a mixture.

As molar mass regulator and/or to increase the activity, hydrogen is added if required.

The catalyst system may be supplied to the polymerization system as a solid or in the form of a paste or suspension in a hydrocarbon or may be treated with inert components, such as paraffins, oils, or waxes, to achieve better metering. If the catalyst system is to be metered into the reactor together with the monomer to be polymerized or the monomer mixture to be polymerized, the mixing unit and the metering line are preferably cooled.

Furthermore, an additive such as an antistatic or an alcohol can be used in the process of the present invention, for example to improve the particle morphology of the olefin polymer. In general it is possible to use all antistatics which are suitable in olefin polymerization processes. It is preferred to dose the antistatic directly into the polymerization system, either together with or separately from the catalyst system used.

The polymers prepared using the catalyst systems of the present invention display an uniform particle morphology and contain no fines. No agglomerates or deposits are obtained in the polymerization using the catalyst system of the present invention.

The catalyst systems of the present invention give polymers such as polypropylene having high molecular weight and cover a broad range of stereospecificity and regiospecificity.

The copolymers which can be prepared using the catalyst system based on metallocenes of formula 1 of the present invention have a significantly higher molar mass compared to the prior art. At the same time, such copolymers can be prepared using the catalyst system of the present invention at a high productivity and at industrially relevant process parameters without deposit formation.

The polymers prepared by the process of the present invention are suitable, in particular, for producing products such as fibers, filaments, injection-molded parts, films, sheets, caps, closures, bottles or large hollow bodies such as pipes with excellent properties.

EXAMPLES

The Examples below illustrate the invention. The comparative examples are presented for comparison purposes only and do not illustrate the invention.

General Procedures

The preparation and handling of the organometallic compounds were carried out under argon using Schlenk techniques or in a glove box. All solvents were purged with argon and dried over molecular sieves before use.

The metallocenes produced were characterized by ¹H-NMR spectroscopy using a Bruker DMX 500 spectrometer, operating at 500 MHz using CDCl₃ as the solvent.

The polymers produced were characterized by ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, DSC, GPC, TREF/ATREF, Melt Flow Rate and IR spectroscopy.

1. Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC), Determination of Mw and Mw/Mn

A Waters Alliance/GPCV2000 equipped with a refractometer, a triple capillary on-line viscometer (Waters Corporation, 34 Maple Street, Milford, Mass., 01757 USA) and a light scattering detector PD 2040 (Precision Detectors Inc., 34 Williams Way, Bellingham, Mass., USA) was used for the determination of the molar mass data of the samples. 0.05 wt % solutions of the samples in 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene were analyzed at a temperature of 145° C. using a Mixed B light scattering quality column (Polymer Labs 1110-6100LS) and a Mixed B guard column (Polymer Labs 1110-1120). Weight average molar mass (Mw) and the ratio of weight average molar mass to number average molar mass (Mw/Mn) were calculated using the Cumulative Matching % Broad Standard procedure that is available in the Waters Millenium 3.2 GPC software module.

2. NMR Spectroscopy

Samples were prepared by weighing 0.32 g of polymer into 2.5 ml of a 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene/deuterobenzene-d6 (4:1 volume) mixture. Samples were heated to 125° C. and mixed until a homogeneous solution was formed (typically 1-4 hours). Spectra were obtained at 120° C. on a Varian Inova 500 instrument (Varian Inc., 3120 Hansen Way, Palo Alto, Calif., 94304, USA) operating at a ¹³C-spectrometer frequency of 125.7 MHz and using a 10 mm probe. Spectra were obtained using 5000 scans employing an/2 pulse of 10.0 μs, a recycle delay of 10.0 s and an acquisition time of 2.5 s. Waltz-16 decoupling remained on throughout the pulse sequence to gain the signal to noise enhancement due to the effects of nOe. Spectra were processed with 1 Hz of line broadening. The mmmm peak in the methyl region of the spectrum was used as an internal chemical shift reference and was set to 21.85 ppm.

3. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), Determination of the Polymer Melting Point Tm

DSC measurements were carried out using a Mettler Toledo DSC 822e (Mettler-Toledo Inc., 1900 Polaris. Parkway, Columbus, Ohio, 43240, USA). 4 mg of sample were weighed into a standard aluminum pan and subjected to the following temperature schedule:

The samples were heated from room temperature to 220° C. at a heating rate of 20° C./min, maintained at this temperature for 5 min, then cooled down to −55° C. at a cooling rate of 20° C./min, maintained at the same temperature for 5 min, then heated to 220° C. at a heating rate of 20° C./min. The melting point was determined from the second heating run as the temperature where the main peak was observed in the curve.

4. Analytical TREF (ATREF)

The TREF experiment is carried out on a TREF system built from a modified Waters 2000CV instrument (Waters Corporation, 34 Maple Street, Milford, Mass., 01757 USA). The 2000CV instrument is maintained at 140° C. in o-dichlorobenzene (ODCB) solvent at 1 ml/min flowrate. To detect the polyolefin fractions eluting from the TREF column, the system uses a heated infrared IR4 detector (PolymerChar Company, Valencia Technology Park, P.O. Box 176, Valencia, Va., E-46980, PATERNA, Spain). For cooling and heating of the TREF column, the system uses a temperature-programmable HAAKE Phoenix II oil bath (Thermo Electron Corporation, 401 Millcreek Road, Marietta, Ohio 45750, USA). The TREF separation column is a stainless steel column of 100 mm long and 0.75 mm diameter packed with 20-micrometer cross-linked polystyrene beads. This TREF column is maintained at the 140° C. temperature in the oil bath before the sample analyses. Polymer samples are dissolved in ODCB solvent at 140° C. at a concentration of 2 mg/ml. One ml of the test sample of the resultant ODCB solution is injected into the TREF column by the auto-injection system of the Waters 2000CV instrument with a flowrate of ODCB set at 1 ml/min. Following the sample injection, the ODCB flow is diverted away from the TREF column. As the sample is kept inside the column, the column is allowed to cool down in the oil bath from 140° C. down to 0° C. at the cooling rate of 1.5° C./min. In this cooling step, the polymer molecules in the test sample are precipitated onto the packing beads in the TREF column. While the column is still at 0° C. temperature, a flow of hot ODCB at 1 ml/min is re-introduced to the TREF column for 2 minutes to elute the soluble fraction of the polymer sample and detected by the IR detector set at 3.4 micrometer wavelength. Then, the temperature is raised at a heating rate of 2° C./min while the ODCB flow is maintained at 1 ml/min through the TREF column to elute the higher melting polymer fractions which are being detected on-line by the IR4 detector.

5. Melt Flow Rate (MFR)

The MFR of the samples were determined according to ISO 1133 at 230° C. Two different loads were used: 2.16 kg and 5 kg. Values are reported as MFR(230/2.16) and MFR(230/5), respectively.

6. Productivity

The productivity of a catalyst is determined by dividing the produced mass of polypropylene by the mass of catalyst used and the reaction time.

7. Yield

The yield of a sample is determined by dividing the isolated amount of the desired product divided by the theoretical achievable amount of the product.

The following abbreviations are employed: PP=polypropylene MC=metallocene Cat=supported catalyst system h=hour

XS=Xylene Soluables Synthesis of Metallocenes Example 1 Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride 4,7-Dibromo-2-methyl-indan-1-one

94.37 g (0.40 mol) 1,4-Dibromobenzene and 106.7 g (0.80 mol) anhydrous aluminum trichloride were placed in a 1000 ml round bottom flask equipped with a mechanical stirrer. 62.72 (0.60 mol) 2-Methyl-acryloyl chloride were added under heat evolution (50-55° C.). The mixture was heated, starting at 105° C. a strong gas evolution was observed and the temperature rose to 135° C. Heating of the now solid mass was continued for 3 h at 110° C. After cooling to room temperature 200 g ice was added very carefully, followed by the careful addition of 200 ml conc. HCl. The mixture was extracted three times with 250 ml dichloromethane each. The combined organic layers were washed with 250 ml water and 250 ml of a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution, dried over magnesium sulfate, and the solvent was removed in vacuo. Flash chromatography using silica and heptane/dichloromethane (1:2) yielded 19.3 g (63 mmol, 16%) of the desired indanone as a white solid.

¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=7.67, 7.54 (2×d, 2H, aromatic), 3.30 (m, 1H, COCHCH₃), 2.74-2.64 (m, 2H, benzylic), 1.30 (d, 3H, CH₃) ppm.

4,7-Dibromo-2-methyl-1H-indene

In a 250 ml round bottom flask 19.2 g (63 mmol) 4,7-Dibromo-2-methyl-indan-1-one were dissolved in 70 ml at 50° C. Then 2.63 g (1.1 eq.) sodium borohydride were added. At 50° C. 11 ml (4.3 eq.) methanol were added dropwise over a period of 30 min. Stirring was continued at 50° C. for 3 h (complete conversion) and then 50 ml water and 50 ml of 2M H₂SO₄ were added. The aqueous phase was extracted 2 times with 100 ml toluene. The combined organic layers were washed with 50 ml 2M H₂SO₄ and 50 ml of a sodium chloride solution, dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was removed in vacuo. 200 ml toluene and 200 mg p-toluene sulfonic acid were added and the solution was heated on a Dean-Stark-trap for 90 min. 50 ml of a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution were added. The aqueous layer was extracted 2 times with 50 ml toluene each. The combined organic layers were washed with 50 ml of a saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and 50 ml of a sodium chloride solution, dried over magnesium sulfate and the solvent was removed in vacuo to yield 17.8 g (62 mmol, 98%) of the desired indene as a slightly brown oil. ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=7.48, 7.35 (2×d, 2H, aromatic), 6.49 (s, 111, indenyl-C═CH), 3.32 (s, 2H, benzylic), 2.12 (2, 3H, CH₃) ppm.

4,7-Bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-1H-indene

In a 250 ml roundbottom flask were placed 7.7 g (26.8 mmol) 4,7-Dibromo-2-methyl-1H-indene, 12.0 g (2.5 eq.) t-butylphenyl boronic acid, 120 mg (2 mol %) palladium acetate, 18.76 g (134.4 mmol) potassium carbonate, 17.24 g (53.5 mmol) tetrabutylammonium bromide, 74 ml degassed water and 74 ml degassed toluene. The mixture was stirred for 18 h at 76° C. After cooling to room temperature, 50 ml toluene and 50 ml water were added. The aqueous phase was extracted 3 times with 50 ml toluene. The combined organic layers were washed once with 100 ml of 2M sodium hydroxide solution and 3 times with 50 ml water each, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo and purification via flash chromatography on silica using heptane/dichloromethane (20:1) yielded 8.14 g (20.6 mmol, 77%) of the desired indene as a white solid. ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=7.57-7.36 (m, 10H, aromatic), 6.70, 6.57 (2×s, 1H, indenyl-C═CH), 3.41 (“d”, 2H, benzylic), 2.15 (2×s, 3H, CH₃), 1.37, 1.35 (2×s, 18H, C(CH₃)₃) ppm.

Bis-[4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-1H-inden-1-yl]-dimethyl-silane

In a flame dried 250 ml roundbottom flask 7.45 g (18.9 mmol) 4,7-Bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-1H-indene were dissolved 127 ml toluene and 7.45 ml THF. 7.93 ml (1.05 eq., 2.5 M in toluene) n-Butyl lithium were added dropwise at room temperature and the solution was heated to 80° C. for 1 h. After cooling to 50° C., 1.22 g (0.5 eq.) dimethyldichlorosilane were added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 17 h at 60° C. The mixture was given to 100 ml water. The aqueous phase was extracted 3 times with 50 ml toluene each and the combined organic layers were washed with 50 ml water and 50 ml of a saturated sodium chloride solution, and dried over magnesium sulphate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo and chromatography on silica using heptane/dichloromethane (10:1) as the eluent afforded 5.7 g (6.7 mmol, 71.4%) of the ligand as a slightly offwhite oil. ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=7.68-7.21 (m, 20H, aromatic), 6.84, 6.79 (1×d, 1×s, 2H, indenyl-C═CH), 3.85, 3.59 (1×m, 1×s, 2H, benzylic), 2.26, 2.19, 2.16, 2.15 (4×s, 6H, CH₃), 1.37-1.26 (m×s, 36H, C(CH₃)₃), 0.41, 0.27, 0.09, −0.11, −0.13 (5×s, 6H, Si(CH₃)₂) ppm.

Dimethylsilanediylbis(4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride

In a flame dried 100 ml roundbottom flask 3.8 g (4.5 mmol) Bis-[4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-2-methyl-1H-inden-1-yl]-dimethyl-silane were dissolved in 38 ml diethyl ether and 3.7 ml (2.05 eq., 2.5 M in toluene) n-butyl lithium were added at room temperature. After stirring overnight, 1.1 g (4.7 mmol) zirconium tetrachloride was added in portions. Stirring was continued for 5 h and the solid was isolated by filtration and washing twice with 15 ml diethyl ether each. The solid was extracted with 100 ml dichloromethane. Removal of the solvent in vacuo yielded 1.2 g (1.2 mmol, 27%) of the racemic complex. ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=7.80 (s, 2H, aromatic), 7.63, 7.51, 7.44 (3×m, 18H, aromatic), 6.99 (s, 2H, indenyl-C═CH), 2.31 (s, 6H, CH₃), 1.37 (s, 6H, Si(CH₃)₂), 1.36, 1.32 (2×s, 36H, C(CH₃)₃) ppm.

Example 2 Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride

4,7-Bis-(1-naphthyl)-2-methyl-1H-indene

In a 500 ml roundbottom flask were placed 17.6 g (61.1 mmol) 4,7-Dibromo-2-methyl-1H-indene, 26.3 g (2.5 eq.) 1-napthyl boronic acid, 274 mg (2 mol %) palladium acetate, 42.23 g (2.5 eq.) potassium carbonate, 39.4 g (2 eq.) tetrabutylammonium bromide, 169 ml degassed water and 169 ml degassed toluene. The mixture was stirred under reflux for 20 h. After cooling to room temperature, 100 ml toluene and 100 ml water were added. The aqueous phase was extracted 3 times with 100 ml toluene. The combined organic layers were washed once with 100 ml of 2M sodium hydroxide solution and 3 times with 50 ml water each, and dried over magnesium sulfate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo and purification via flash chromatography on silica using heptane/dichloromethane (10:1) yielded 15.3 g (40 mmol, 65%) of the desired indene as a white solid. ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=8.11, 7.89-7.77, 7.57-7.26 (3×m, 16H, aromatic), 6.61, 6.18 (2×s, 1H, indenyl-C═CH), 3.49 (“d”, 2H, benzylic), 2.09 (2×s, 3H, CH₃) ppm.

Bis-[4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-2-methyl-1H-inden-1-yl]-dimethyl-silane

In a flame dried 250 ml roundbottom flask 2.0 g (5.2 mmol) 4,7-Bis-(1-naphthyl)-2-methyl-1H-indene were dissolved 34 ml toluene and 2 ml THF. 2.2 ml (1.05 eq., 2.5 M in toluene) n-Butyl lithium were added dropwise at room temperature and the solution was heated to 80° C. for 1 h. After cooling to 50° C., 337 mg (0.5 eq.) dimethyldichlorosilane were added and the reaction mixture was stirred for 17 h at 60° C. The mixture was given to 100 ml water. The aqueous phase was extracted 3× with 50 ml toluene each and the combined organic layers were washed with 50 ml water and 50 ml of a saturated sodium chloride solution, and dried over magnesium sulphate. Removal of the solvent in vacuo and chromatography on silica using heptane/dichloromethane (10:1) as the eluent afforded 1.8 g (2.2 mmol, 84%) of the ligand as a slightly offwhite oil. ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): =8.08-7.29 (m, 32H, aromatic), 6.35, 6.26 (2×d, 2H, indenyl-C═CH), 4.04-3.94 (m, 2H, benzylic), 2.24-2.15 (m, 6H, CH₃), 0.00, −0.01, −0.02, −0.03, −0.04 (5×s, 6H, Si(CH₃)₂) ppm.

Dimethylsilanediylbis(4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-2-methyl-1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride

In a flame dried 100 ml roundbottom flask 1.8 g (2.2 mmol) Bis-[4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-2-methyl-1H-inden-1-yl]-dimethyl-silane were dissolved in 18 ml diethyl ether and 1.8 ml (2.05 eq., 2.5 M in toluene) n-butyl lithium were added at room temperature. After stirring overnight, 536 mg (2.3 mmol) zirconium tetrachloride was added in portions. Stirring was continued for 2 h and the solvent was removed in vacuo. 30 ml toluene and 1.8 ml THF were added and the mixture was stirred for 4 h at 75° C. The solvent was removed and the complex was isolated by extraction with toluene to yield 430 mg (0.44 mmol, 20%) of the racemic complex. ¹H-NMR (500 MHz, CDCl₃): δ=8.04-7.11 (m, 32H, aromatic), 6.65 (s, 2H, indenyl-C═CH), 2.21 (s, 6H, CH₃), 1.27 (s, 6H, Si(CH₃)₂) ppm.

Comparative Example 3 Bis(2,4,7-trimethyl-1H-inden-1-yl)-dimethyl-silane

Bis(2,4,7-trimethyl-1H-inden-1-yl)-dimethyl-silane

10.6 ml (26.5 mmole) of a 2.5 M n-butyl lithium solution in hexane were added to a solution of 4.2 g (26.5 mmole) of 2,4,7-trimethylindene in 50 ml of tetrahydrofuran at 0° C. and the mixture was heated under reflux for a further hour and then added to a solution of 3.42 g of dimethyldichlorosilane in 12 ml of tetrahydrofuran at room temperature. The red suspension was stirred at room temperature for 4 hours and was heated under reflux for additional 4 hours. The mixture was poured onto ice and extracted with diethylether. The combined organic phases were dried over sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. Recrystallization from hexane yielded 3.95 g (10.6 mmole) of Bis(2,4,7-trimethyl-1H-inden-1-yl]-dimethylsilane.

Comparative Example 4 Dimethylsilanediylbis(2,4,7-trimethyl-indenyl)-zirconiumdichloride Dimethylsilanediylbis(2,4,7-trimethyl-indenyl)-zirconiumdichloride

Continuing with the product produced in Comparative Example 3, 4.32 ml (10.8 mmole) of a 2.5 M n-butyl lithium solution in hexane were added to a solution of 2.0 g (5.4 mmole) of Bis(2,4,7-trimethyl-1H-inden-1-yl]-dimethylsilane in 40 ml of diethylether at 0° C. The mixture was stirred at room temperature for 2 hours and concentrated to 25 ml and the precipitate was filtered over a G4 frit. After being washed with hexane the dilithium salt was added to 1.26 g (5.4 mmole) of zirconiumtetrachloride in 25 ml of methylene chloride at −78° C. The solvent was removed in vacuum resulting in a crude metallocene with a rac:meso ratio of 1:1. Purification and rac:meso separation was accomplished by fractional crystallisation from methylenehloride/hexane.

Preparation of Methylaluminoxane Treated Silica Example 5

To a stirred suspension of 293 g of silica (Grace XP02107, dried at 180° C. and 1 mbar for 16 hours, LOD<0.5 wt % and LOI=2.6 wt %) in 1500 mL of toluene is added slowly 300 mL of a 30 wt-% solution of methylaluminoxane in toluene (Albemarle Corporation) at room temperature. During the addition the temperature must not exceed 30° C. After the addition is complete, the mixture is stirred for two hours at room temperature and separated by filtration. The residue is washed with two 1500 mL portions of toluene and three 1500 mL portions of isohexane and dried in vacuum to constant weight. The methylaluminoxane treated silica is obtained as a free-flowing powder in a yield of 408 g.

Preparation of Supported Metallocene Catalysts Example 6

10.0 g of the methylaluminoxane treated silica prepared in Example 5 are placed in a fitted glass filter as a column with a smooth surface. A minimal amount of toluene is added and the treated silica is carefully stirred with a spatula to remove any air pockets in the column. The excess toluene is removed by filtration leaving a smooth surface. In a separate flask 361 mg of Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-1-indenyl)zirconium dichloride (prepared in Example 1) are mixed with 27 mL of toluene and 13.6 mL of a 30 wt-% solution of methylaluminoxane in toluene (Albemarle Corporation). The slurry is stirred at room temperature for one hour to give an orange solution. This solution is then carefully added on top of the methylaluminoxane treated silica and slowly filtered off within approximately 30 minutes. When the surface of the colored solution reaches the top of the silica, the filtration process is stopped and the filter cake is carefully and thoroughly stirred by means of a spatula. The catalyst is then allowed to rest for one hour. The residual solvent is filtered off and the catalyst is washed twice with isohexane (20 mL) and dried in a nitrogen purge to constant weight. The catalyst is obtained as free-flowing reddish powder in a yield of 11.8 g.

Example 7

10.0 g of the methylaluminoxane treated silica prepared in Example 5 are placed in a flitted glass filter as a column with a smooth surface. A minimal amount of toluene is added and the treated silica is carefully stirred with a spatula to remove any air pockets in the column. The excess toluene is removed by filtration leaving a smooth surface. In a separate flask 353 mg of Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride (prepared in Example 2) are mixed with 27 mL of toluene and 13.6 mL of a 30 wt-% solution of methylaluminoxane in toluene (Albemarle Corporation). The slurry is stirred at room temperature for one hour to give an orange solution. This solution is then carefully added on top of the methylaluminoxane treated silica and slowly filtered off within approximately 30 minutes. When the surface of the colored solution reaches the top of the silica, the filtration process is stopped and the filter cake is carefully and thoroughly stirred by means of a spatula. The catalyst is then allowed to rest for one hour. The residual solvent is filtered off and the catalyst is washed twice with isohexane (20 mL) and dried in a nitrogen purge to constant weight. The catalyst is obtained as free-flowing reddish powder in a yield of 11.5 g.

Comparative Example 8

10.0 g of the methylaluminoxane treated silica prepared in Example 12 are placed in a fritted glass filter as a column with a smooth surface. A minimal amount of toluene is added and the treated silica is carefully stirred with a spatula to remove any air pockets in the column. The excess toluene is removed by filtration leaving a smooth surface. In a separate flask 191 mg of Dimethylsilanediylbis(2,4,7-trimethyl-indenyl)-zirconiumdichloride (prepared in Comparative Example 4) are mixed with 27 mL of toluene and 13.6 mL of a 30 wt-% solution of methylaluminoxane in toluene (Albemarle Corporation). The slurry is stirred at room temperature for one hour to give an orange solution. This solution is then carefully added on top of the methylaluminoxane treated silica and slowly filtered off within approximately 30 minutes. When the surface of the colored solution reaches the top of the silica, the filtration process is stopped and the filter cake is carefully and thoroughly stirred by means of a spatula. The catalyst is then allowed to rest for one hour. The residual solvent is filtered off and the catalyst is washed twice with isohexane (20 mL) and dried in a nitrogen purge to constant weight. The catalyst is obtained as free-flowing orange powder in a yield of 11.5 g.

Polymerizations Polymerization Procedure (Batch Propylene Homo- and Co-Polymerization):

A dry and nitrogen purged 5 dm³ autoclave equipped with a stirrer is charged with if desired 100 g of metallocene polymer seed bed. Optionally, a certain amount of hydrogen is metered in. Triisobutylaluminum (1 cm³ of a 10 wt.-% solution in heptane), liquid propylene (one-half of the total amount used for the run), and optionally, a certain amount of ethylene are metered in and the mixture is stirred for at least 5 minutes (stirrer speed 200 rpm) at 20° C. Then supported metallocene catalyst, suspended in 5 cm³ of white oil, is injected with liquid propylene (one-half of total amount used for the run). The reactor is heated to the internally measured run temperature (65, 60 or 30° C.) within 11 minutes. The polymerization reaction is allowed to proceed at the run temperature for either 15 or 60 minutes. During the 60 min copolymerization runs the reactor pressure was maintained by continuous feeding of ethylene and propylene. The polymerization is stopped by releasing the monomer and cooling down the reactor. The polymer is discharged and dried under reduced pressure.

The following examples were carried out according to the polymerization procedure described above:

TABLE 1 Polymerizations Catalyst Polym. Polym. Productivity Poly. From H2 C3 C2 Catalyst Temp. Time Yield [g polymer/g Example Example [mg] [g] [g] [mg] [° C.] [min] [g] catalyst*hour] 1 6 — 1830 — 68 65 60 119 1750 2 6 50 1834 — 52 65 60 692 13300 3 6 10 1836 20 75 65 60 210 2800 4 6 10 1767 60 75 65 60 233 3100 5 7 — 1838 — 110 65 60 132 1200 6 7 50 1834 — 56 65 60 532 9500 7 7 10 1756 20 60 65 60 117 1950 8 7 10 1780 60 60 65 60 172 2870 9 8 — 1836 — 60 65 60 62 1033 10 8 50 1832 — 58 65 60 412 7100 11 8 10 1820 20 62 65 60 90 1450 12 8 10 1824 60 60 65 60 107 1780

TABLE 2 Polymer Properties Catalyst MFR Poly. from C2 Tm 2.16 Mw XS Example Example [wt %] [deg C.] [g/10′] [kg/mol] Mw/Mn [wt %] 1 6 — 147 0.2 817 2.3 1.4 2 6 — 149 16.3 207 2.3 1.1 3 6 2.2 135 8.5 289 2.0 1.4 4 6 5.2 113 10.0 237 2.2 1.6 5 7 — 147 0.01 1420 2.4 1.4 6 7 — 148 3.3 330 2.5 1.1 7 7 2.5 130 5.9 309 2.7 1.4 8 7 5.5 111 7.9 295 2.5 1.7 9 8 — 144 out of 73 2.6 n.d measureable range 10 8 — 146 out of 19 2.7 n.d measureable range 11 8 Sticky waxy material 12 8 Sticky waxy material

Analysis of Results

Table 1 and Table 2 represent the raw data presented by test run; the remaining tables 3-break that data out by the ratio of propylene to ethylene (or if it is a propylene homo polymer) and whether hydrogen was used in the polymerization process.

Propylene Homo Polymers

Analysis 1: Production of Propylene Homo Polymers without the Use of Hydrogen.

Table 3 shows the results of two experimental Metallocene catalysts conforming to the requirements of the invention compared to a comparative example.

The individual catalyst comparisons between inventive examples 1 and 5 and comparative example 9 substantiate the outstanding improvements over the state of the art. When examples 1 and 5 are compared to comparative example 9, the inventive examples exhibit significantly lower MFR 2.16 rates and increases in Molecular Weight and Polymer Melting Point (T_(m)). Specifically for MFR 2.16, the inventive examples 1 and 5 show MFR values of less than 0.2 while the MFR of the polymer produced in the comparative example 9 is so high that the MFR was out of range and was not measureable. For the Polymer Melting Point (T_(m)), the inventive examples 1 and 5 show a respective increase of 3° C. over the original value. For the molecular weight, the inventive examples 1 and 5 show a respective increase of more than 10 to 20 fold over the original value. This dramatic increase of Molecular Weight opens full access to application fields like film, pipe or sheets, where a high Molecular Weight is mandatory. Even more surprisingly is that the inventive examples showed these dramatic improvements in product properties at much higher productivity levels. Inventive example 1 shows a 69% increase in productivity and inventive example 5 shows a 16% increase in productivity over the original value.

Analysis 2: Production of Propylene Homo Polymers with the Use of Hydrogen.

Table 4 shows the results of two experimental Metallocene catalysts conforming to the requirements of the invention compared to a comparative example.

The individual catalyst comparisons between inventive examples 2 and 6 and comparative example 10 again substantiate the outstanding improvements over the state of the art. When examples 2 and 6 are compared to comparative example 10, the inventive examples exhibit significantly lower MFR 2.16 rates and increases in Molecular Weight and Polymer Melting Point (T_(m)). Specifically for MFR 2.16, the inventive examples 2 and 6 show MFR values of less than 16.3 while the MFR of the polymer produced in the comparative example 10 is so high that the MFR was out of range and was not measureable. For the Polymer Melting Point (T_(m)), the inventive examples 2 and 6 show a respective increase of 2 to 3° C. over the original value. For the molecular weight, the inventive examples 2 and 6 show a respective increase of more than 10 to 17 fold over the original value. This dramatic increase of Molecular Weight opens full access to application fields like film, fibre and injection moulding, where a Molecular Weight in the achieved range is mandatory. Even more surprisingly is that the inventive examples showed these dramatic improvements in product properties at much higher productivity levels. Inventive example 2 shows a 87% increase in productivity and inventive example 6 shows a 34% increase in productivity over the original value.

Propylene/Ethylene Co-Polymers

The polymerization performance and the properties of products made from the inventive catalysts were tested at two levels of an ethylene/propylene mix to form co-polymers (Table 5). In each case the inventive catalysts from examples 6 and 7 have been tested, and compared against the comparative catalyst from example 8.

Analysis 3: Production of Propylene/Ethylene Co-Polymers with a Propylene/Ethylene Ratio of Approximately 90 and 30 (20 g Resp. 60 g of Ethylene) in the Presence of Hydrogen.

Two inventive catalyst (examples 3, 4 and 7, 8) have tested against the comparative catalyst, (examples 11, 12), the results being presented in Table 5. As before, the inventive catalyst showed significant improvements over the comparative catalyst. Under the applied standard conditions for testing random co-polymers and using the comparative catalyst it was no longer possible to produce a polymer! The product isolated from the polymerisation was a waxy and sticky material. As a consequence, such a catalyst can not be commercially used. Specifically for MFR 2.16, the inventive examples 3, 4 and 7, 8 show MFR values of still less than 10 while the MFR of the waxes (as indicated above, the material was no longer a polymer!) produced in the comparative examples 11 and 12 was so high that the MFR was out of range and was not measureable. For the molecular weight, the inventive examples 3, 4 and 7, 8 show still values above 230 kg/mol which open full access to application fields like high transparent film, fibre and high transparent injection moulding. Even more surprisingly is that the inventive examples showed these dramatic improvements in product properties at much higher productivity levels. Inventive examples 3 and 7 where 20 g of ethylene was used in the polymerization show a 93% and 34% increase in productivity over the directly comparable value of example 11 and inventive examples 4 and 8 where 60 g of ethylene was used show a 74% and 61% increase in productivity over the directly comparable value of example 12.

While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations of the invention but merely as preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other embodiments within the scope and spirit of the claims as defined by the claims appended hereto.

TABLE 3 Production of propylene homo polymers without the use of hydrogen Catalyst Polym. Polym. Productivity MFR Poly. From H2 C3 C2 Catalyst Temp. Time Yield [g polymer/g Tm 2.16 Mw XS Example Example [mg] [g] [g] [mg] [° C.] [min] [g] catalyst*hour] [deg C.] [g/10′] [kg/mol] Mw/Mn [wt %] 1 6 — 1830 — 68 65 60 119 1750 147 0.2 817 2.3 1.4 5 7 — 1838 — 110 65 60 132 1200 147 0.01 1420 2.4 1.4 9 8 — 1836 — 60 65 60 62 1033 144 out of 73 2.6 n.d measureable range

TABLE 4 Production of propylene homo polymers with the use of hydrogen Catalyst Polym. Polym. Productivity MFR Poly. From H2 C3 C2 Catalyst Temp. Time Yield [g polymer/g Tm 2.16 Mw XS Example Example [mg] [g] [g] [mg] [° C.] [min] [g] catalyst*hour] [deg C.] [g/10′] [kg/mol] Mw/Mn [wt %] 2 6 50 1834 — 52 65 60 692 13300 149 16.3 207 2.3 1.1 6 7 50 1834 — 56 65 60 532 9500 148 3.3 330 2.5 1.1 10 8 50 1832 — 58 65 60 412 7100 146 out of 19 2.7 n.d measureable range

TABLE 5 Production of propylene/ethylene co-polymers with a propylene/ethylene ratio of approximately 90 and 30 (20 g resp. 60 g of ethylene) in the presence of hydrogen Produc- tivity [g Catalyst Polym. Polym. polymer/g MFR Poly. From H2 C3 C2 Catalyst Temp. Time Yield catalyst* C2 Tm 2.16 Mw XS Example Example [mg] [g] [g] [mg] [° C.] [min] [g] hour] [wt %] [deg C.] [g/10′] [kg/mol] Mw/Mn [wt %] 3 6 10 1836 20 75 65 60 210 2800 2.2 135 8.5 289 2.0 1.4 4 6 10 1767 60 75 65 60 233 3100 5.2 113 10.0 237 2.2 1.6 7 7 10 1756 20 60 65 60 117 1950 2.5 130 5.9 309 2.7 1.4 8 7 10 1780 60 60 65 60 172 2870 5.5 111 7.9 295 2.5 1.7 11 8 10 1820 20 62 65 60 90 1450 Sticky waxy material 12 8 10 1824 60 60 65 60 107 1780 Sticky waxy material 

1. A catalyst composition comprising a metallocene compound having formula 1:

in which: is a metal of the Groups 4-6 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, R¹ and R² are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, an OH group, a halogen atom, or a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 14 carbon atoms and R¹ and R² may form one or more ring system(s). R³ and R^(3′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, said hydrocarbon group being selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms and a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, said hydrocarbon group being selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, or an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, a halogen atom and a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical or different and are each an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkenylaryl group of from 8 to about 40 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted silylaryl group, or an (alkyl)(silyl)aryl group, and optionally may be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen, or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, wherein the hydrocarbon group is selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, a halogen atom and a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, R¹⁰ is a bridging group wherein R¹⁰ is selected from:

where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹, even when bearing the same index, can be identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, or a hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated or which may contain hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, wherein the hydrocarbon group is selected from an alkyl group having from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, a fluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylsilyl, alkyl(aryl)silyl group, an arylsilyl group or an arylalkenyl group of from 8 to about 40 carbon atoms, or wherein R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ together with the atoms connecting them can form one or more cyclic systems, x is an integer from 1 to 18, M¹² is silicon, germanium or tin, and R¹⁰ may also link two units of the formula 1 to one another.
 2. The catalyst composition of claim 1 wherein: M¹ is a metal of the Group 4 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, R¹ and R² are identical or different and are each an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms or a halogen atom, or R¹ and R² together may form one or more ring system(s), R³ and R^(3′) are identical or different and are each a halogen atom or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated and/or may optionally contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, wherein the hydrocarbon group is selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 20 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 15 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms and a NR₂ ³² group where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms which may optionally be halogenated and/or may optionally contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical or different and are each an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, and may optionally contain one or more hetero atoms selected from B, Al, O, S, N, P, F, Cl and Br, R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms which may be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from B, Al, O, S, N and P, R¹⁰ is R⁴⁰R⁴¹Si═, R⁴⁰R⁴¹Ge═, R⁴⁰R⁴¹C═ or —(R⁴⁰R⁴¹C—CR⁴⁰R⁴¹)—, where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group of from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, in particular an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of from 7 to about 14 carbon atoms, or an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 14 carbon atoms,
 3. The catalyst composition of claim 1 wherein: M¹ is zirconium, R¹ and R² are identical and are methyl, chlorine or phenolate, R³ and R^(3′) are identical and are a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, cyclopropyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, t-butyl-methyl, butyl, s-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, cyclopropyl-methyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentyl-methyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexyl-methyl, (1-adamantyl)methyl, (2-adamantyl)methyl, benzyl, phenylethyl and phenyl-propyl, R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical and are each a hydrogen atom, R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical and are each an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, selected from phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphtyl, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms which may optionally contain one or more hetero atoms selected from B, Al, O, S, N, P, F, Cl and Br, the alkylaryl group being selected from 4 methyl-phenyl, 4-ethyl-phenyl, 4-i-propyl-phenyl, 4-t-butyl-phenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-methoxy-phenyl, and 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl, R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical and are each a hydrogen atom, the bridging unit R¹⁰ is R⁴⁰R⁴¹Si═ or R⁴⁰R⁴¹Ge═, where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are identical or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, naphthyl, benzyl, or 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl.
 4. The catalyst composition of claim 1 wherein, M¹ is zirconium, R¹ and R² are identical and are methyl or chlorine, R³ and R^(3′) are identical and are each methyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, cyclohexyl-methyl, t-butyl-methyl, (1-adamantyl)methyl, (2-adamantyl)methyl, benzyl, phenethyl or phenyl-propyl, R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical and are each a hydrogen atom, R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical and are each phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphtyl, 4-methyl-phenyl, 4-ethyl-phenyl, 4-i-propyl-phenyl, 4-t-butyl-phenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-methoxy-phenyl, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl, R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical and are each a hydrogen atom the bridging unit R¹⁰ is R⁴⁰R⁴¹Si═ or R⁴⁰R⁴¹Ge═, where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are identical or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, naphthyl, benzyl, or 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl.
 5. The catalyst composition of claim 1 further including an aluminoxane, a Lewis acid or an ionic compound capable of converting the metallocene compound to a cationic compound.
 6. The catalyst composition of claim 5 wherein the aluminoxane is a compound having the general formula selected from one of formulas 6, 7, 8, or 9:

wherein radicals R in the formulas (6), (7), (8) and (9) can be identical or different and are each an alkyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 18 carbon atoms, benzyl or hydrogen, and p is an integer from 2 to
 50. 7. The catalyst composition of claim 5 wherein the Lewis acid is a compound having formula 10: M²X¹X²X³  (Formula 10) where M² is B, Al or Ga, and X¹, X² and X³ are the same or different and each are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 15 carbon atoms, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, haloalkyl or haloaryl each having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and from 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.
 8. The catalyst composition of claim 7 wherein the Lewis acid comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tributylaluminum, trifluoroborane, triphenylborane, tris(4-fluorophenyl)borane, tris(3,5-difluorophenyl)borane, tris(4-fluoromethylphenyl)borane, tris(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)borane, tris(penta-fluorophenyl)borane, tris(tolyl)borane, tris(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)borane, tris(3,5-difluorophenyl)borane and tris(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)borane.
 9. The catalyst composition of claim 5 wherein the ionic compound comprises one or more compound selected from the group consisting of: triethylammoniumtetra(phenyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(phenyl)borate, trimethylammoniumtetra(tolyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(tolyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(pentafluorophenyl) aluminate, tripropylammoniumtetra(dimethylphenyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(trifluoromethylphenyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(4-fluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylcyclohexylammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylbenzylammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetra(phenyl)borate, N,N-diethylaniliniumtetra(phenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)aluminate, di(propyl)ammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, di(cyclohexyl)ammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylphosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, triethylphosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, diphenylphosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, tri(methylphenyl)phosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, tri(dimethylphenyl)phosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)aluminate, triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(phenyl)aluminate, ferroceniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate and ferroceniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)aluminate.
 10. The catalyst composition of claim 5 further including a particulate porous solid support.
 11. The catalyst composition of claim 10 wherein the particulate porous solid support comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide, aluminum oxide, aluminosilicates, zeolites, MgO, ZrO₂, TiO₂, B₂O₃, CaO, ZnO, ThO₂, Na₂O, K₂O, LiO₂, Al/Si oxides, Mg/Al oxides, Al/Mg/Si oxides, Na₂CO₃, K₂CO₃, CaCO₃, MgCl₂, Na₂SO₄, Al₂(SO₄)₃, BaSO₄, KNO₃, Mg(NO₃)₂ and Al(NO₃)₃, polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polystyrene, divinylbenzene-crosslinked polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, polyamide, polymethacrylate, polycarbonate, polyester, polyacetal and polyvinyl alcohol.
 12. A method for olefin polymerization comprising contacting one or more olefins each having from 2 to about 20 carbon atoms under olefin polymerization reaction conditions with a catalyst system including a bridged metallocene component having the general formula 1,

in which: M¹ is a metal of the Groups 4-6 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, R¹ and R² are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, an OH group, a halogen atom, or a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 14 carbon atoms and R¹ and R² may form one or more ring system(s). R³ and R^(3′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, said hydrocarbon group being selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms and a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, said hydrocarbon group being selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, or an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, a halogen atom and a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical or different and are each an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkenylaryl group of from 8 to about 40 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted silylaryl group, or an (alkyl)(silyl)aryl group, and optionally may be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen, or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, wherein the hydrocarbon group is selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, a halogen atom and a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, R¹⁰ is a bridging group wherein R¹⁰ is selected from:

where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹, even when bearing the same index, can be identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, or a hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated or which may contain hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, wherein the hydrocarbon group is selected from an alkyl group having from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, a fluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylsilyl, allyl(aryl)silyl group, an arylsilyl group and an arylalkenyl group of from 8 to about 40 carbon atoms, or wherein R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ together with the atoms connecting them can form one or more cyclic systems, x is an integer from 1 to 18, M¹² is silicon, germanium or tin, and R¹⁰ may also link two units of the formula 1 to one another.
 13. The method of claim 12 wherein: M¹ is a metal of the Group 4 of the Periodic Table of the Elements, R¹ and R² are identical or different and are each an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms or a halogen atom, or R¹ and R² together may form one or more ring system(s), R³ and R^(3′) are identical or different and are each a halogen atom or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated and/or may optionally contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, wherein the hydrocarbon group is selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 20 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 15 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 6 carbon atoms and a NR₂ ³² group where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms which may optionally be halogenated and/or may optionally contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical or different and are each an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, and may optionally contain one or more hetero atoms selected from B, Al, O, S, N, P, F, Cl and Br, R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, or an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms which may be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from B, Al, O, S, N and P, R¹⁰ is R⁴⁰R⁴¹Si═, R⁴⁰R⁴¹Ge═, R⁴⁰R⁴¹C═ or —(R⁴⁰R⁴¹C—CR⁴⁰R⁴¹)— where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbon group of from 1 to about 40 carbon atoms selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of from 7 to about 14 carbon atoms and an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 14 carbon atoms,
 14. The method of claim 12 wherein M¹ is zirconium, R¹ and R² are identical and are methyl, chlorine or phenolate, R³ and R^(3′) are identical and are a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group selected from methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, i-propyl, cyclopropyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, t-butyl-methyl, i-butyl, s-butyl, n-pentyl, n-hexyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, cyclopropyl-methyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentyl-methyl, cyclohexyl, cyclohexyl-methyl, (1-adamantyl)methyl, (2-adamantyl)methyl, benzyl, phenylethyl or phenyl-propyl, R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical and are each a hydrogen atom, R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical and are each an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, selected from phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphtyl, or an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms which may optionally contain one or more hetero atoms selected from B, Al, O, S, N, P, F, Cl and Br, the alkylaryl group being selected from 4-methyl-phenyl, 4-ethyl-phenyl, 4-i-propyl-phenyl, 4-t-butyl-phenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-methoxy-phenyl, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl, R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical and are each a hydrogen atom, the bridging unit R¹⁰ is R⁴⁰R⁴¹Si═ or R⁴⁰R⁴¹Ge═, where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are identical or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, naphthyl, benzyl, or 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl.
 15. The method of claim 12 wherein, M¹ is zirconium, R¹ and R² are identical and are methyl or chlorine, R³ and R^(3′) are identical and are each methyl, n-heptyl, n-octyl, n-nonyl, n-decyl, cyclohexyl-methyl, t-butyl-methyl, (1-adamantyl)methyl, (2-adamantyl)methyl, benzyl, phenethyl or phenyl-propyl, R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical and are each a hydrogen atom, R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical and are each phenyl, 1-naphthyl, 2-naphtyl, 4-methyl-phenyl, 4-ethyl-phenyl, 4-i-propyl-phenyl, 44-butyl-phenyl, 3,5-dimethylphenyl, 3,5-di-t-butyl-4-methoxy-phenyl, 2,3,4,5,6-pentafluorophenyl, R⁶, R^(6′), R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical and are each a hydrogen atom the bridging unit R¹⁰ is R⁴⁰R⁴¹Si═ or R⁴⁰R⁴¹Ge═, where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ are identical or different and are methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl; pentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl, undecyl, dodecyl, cyclopentyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexyl, phenyl, naphthyl, benzyl, or 3,3,3-trifluoropropyl.
 16. The method of claim 12 wherein the catalyst system further including an aluminoxane, a Lewis acid or an ionic compound capable of converting the metallocene compound to a cationic compound.
 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the aluminoxane is a compound having the general formula selected from one of formulas 6, 7, 8, or 9:

wherein radicals R in the formulas (6), (7), (8) and (9) can be identical or different and are each a an alkyl group of from 1 to about 6 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 18 carbon atoms, benzyl or hydrogen and p is an integer from 2 to
 50. 18. The catalyst composition of claim 16 wherein the Lewis acid is a compound having formula 10: M²X¹X²X³  (Formula 10) where M² is B, Al or Ga, and X¹, X² and X³ are the same or different and each are a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 15 carbon atoms, alkylaryl, arylalkyl, haloalkyl or haloaryl each having from 1 to 10 carbon atoms in the alkyl radical and from 6-20 carbon atoms in the aryl radical or fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine.
 19. The method of claim 18 wherein the Lewis acid comprises one or more compounds selected from the group consisting of trimethylaluminum, triethylaluminum, triisobutylaluminum, tributylaluminum, trifluoroborane, triphenylborane, tris(4-fluorophenyl)borane, tris(3,5-difluorophenyl)borane, tris(4-fluoromethylphenyl)borane, tris(2,4,6-trifluorophenyl)borane, tris(penta-fluorophenyl)borane, tris(tolyl)borane, tris(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)borane, tris(3,5-difluorophenyl)borane and tris(3,4,5-trifluorophenyl)borane.
 20. The method of claim 16 wherein the ionic compound comprises one or more compound selected from the group consisting of: triethylammoniumtetra(phenyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(phenyl)borate, trimethylammoniumtetra(tolyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(tolyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(pentafluorophenyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(pentafluorophenyl) aluminate, tripropylammoniumtetra(dimethylphenyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(trifluoromethylphenyl)borate, tributylammoniumtetra(4-fluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylcyclohexylanunoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylbenzylammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetra(phenyl)borate, N,N-diethylaniliniumtetra(phenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, N,N-dimethylaniliniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)aluminate, di(propyl)ammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, di(cyclohexyl)ammoniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylphosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, triethylphosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, diphenylphosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, tri(methylphenyl)phosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, tri(dimethylphenyl)phosphoniumtetrakis(phenyl)borate, triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate, triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)aluminate, triphenylcarbeniumtetrakis(phenyl)aluminate, ferroceniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)borate and ferroceniumtetrakis(pentafluorophenyl)aluminate.
 21. The method of claim 12 wherein the one or more olefins include propylene and/or ethylene.
 22. The method of claim 21 wherein the one or more olefins further include one or more of 1-butene, hexene, 1,4-butadiene, norbornadiene, ethylidenenorbornene of ethylnorbornadiene.
 23. A method for preparing a bridged metallocene comprising: a) providing a compound having the formula 1a

b) reacting the compound of formula 1a with a base under reaction conditions sufficient to achieve deprotonation of the compound having formula 1a; c) reacting the deprotonated compound of step (b) with a compound having the formula M¹²R⁴⁰R⁴¹X₂ wherein M¹² is silicon, germanium or tin, R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹; even when bearing the same index, can be identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, or a hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated or which may contain hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, wherein the hydrocarbon group is selected from an alkyl group having from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, a fluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylsilyl, alkyl(aryl)silyl group, an arylsilyl group and an arylalkenyl group of from 8 to about 40 carbon atoms, or wherein R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ together with the atoms connecting them can form one or more cyclic systems, and X is a halogen or another leaving group like triflate, tosylate, or mesylate, to provide a compound having formula 1b

wherein R³ and R^(3′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, said hydrocarbon group being selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms and a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, R⁴ and R^(4′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, said hydrocarbon group being selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, a halogen atom and a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 14 carbon atoms, R⁵, R^(5′), R⁸ and R^(8′) are identical or different and are each an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkenylaryl group of from 8 to about 40 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted silylaryl group, or an (alkyl)(silyl)aryl group, and optionally may be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, R⁶, R^(6′), K R⁷ and R^(7′) are identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, a halogen, or a linear, cyclic or branched hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated and/or may contain one or more hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, wherein the hydrocarbon group is selected from an alkyl group of from 1 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylalkenyl group of from 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylarylalkenyl group of from 9 to about 40 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of 7 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 20 carbon atoms, a heteroaryl group of 3 to about 20 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, a silyloxy group of about 3 to 20 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, a halogen atom and a NR₂ ³² group, where R³² is an alkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms or an aryl group of from 6 to about 0.14 carbon atoms, R¹⁰ is a bridging group wherein R¹⁰ is selected from:

where R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹, even when bearing the same index, can be identical or different and are each a hydrogen atom, or a hydrocarbon group which may optionally be halogenated or which may contain hetero atoms selected from Si, B, Al, O, S, N and P, wherein the hydrocarbon group is selected from an alkyl group having from 1 to about 30 carbon atoms, an aryl group of from 6 to about 40 carbon atoms, a fluoroalkyl group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group of from 1 to about 10 carbon atoms, an aryloxy group of from 6 to about 10 carbon atoms, an alkenyl group of from 2 to about 10 carbon atoms, an arylalkyl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, an alkylaryl group of from 7 to about 40 carbon atoms, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylsilyl, alkyl(aryl)silyl group, an arylsilyl group and an arylalkenyl group of from 8 to about 40 carbon atoms, or wherein R⁴⁰ and R⁴¹ together with the atoms connecting them can form one or more cyclic systems, x is an integer from 1 to 18, M¹² is silicon, germanium or tin, and R¹⁰ may also link two units of the formula 1 to one another; d) reacting the compound of formula 1b with a base under conditions sufficient to achieve double deprotonation of the compound of formula 1b; and e) reacting the double deprotonated compound from step (d) with a compound having the formula M¹Cl₄ wherein M¹ is zirconium, titanium or hafnium, to provide a bridged metallocene compound of substantially 100% pure racemic isomer as synthesized.
 24. The method of claim 23 wherein the base is n-butyl lithium.
 25. The method of claim 23 wherein the steps (b) and (d) of deprotonation are carried out at a temperature of from about −70° C. to about 80° C.
 26. The method of claim 23 wherein M¹² is silicon and M¹ is zirconium.
 27. The catalyst composition of claim 1, wherein the metallocene compound having formula 1 is selected from the group consisting of Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride; Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2,4,7-triphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-diphenyl-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-furyl)-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-bis-(4-methyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-furyl)-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-bis-(4-t-butyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-furyl)-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-bis-(3,5-dimethyl-phenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-furyl)-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-bis-(1-naphthyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-methyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-ethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-propyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-i-propyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-butyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-s-butyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-pentyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-hexyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-n-heptyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopropylmethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclobutylmethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclopentylmethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cyclohexylmethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-cycloheptylmethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-adamantyl)methyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-t-butyl-methyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-(1-furyl)-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-benzyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenethyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride, Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylpropyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride and Dimethylsilanediylbis(2-phenylbutyl-4,7-bis-(9-anthracenyl)-indenyl)zirconium dichloride. 